The Delta State Police Command has intercepted a Toyota Sienna allegedly conveying military camouflage uniforms, boots, hats and cartons of suspected illicit drugs, while six suspected cultists were arrested in separate operations across the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Saturday.
The first operation took place at about 4:50am on Friday, September 18, when operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Asaba, intercepted a green Toyota Sienna with registration number KP 527 AAA.
The police said the operation followed intelligence that a vehicle carrying suspected illicit drugs and military accoutrements was travelling from Onitsha towards Ondo State.
The driver, identified as 45-year-old Isaac Urji from Abia State, was arrested.
A search of the vehicle allegedly led to the recovery of cartons of suspected Tramadol and other suspected illicit drugs, as well as military camouflage uniforms, boots and hats.
The police said investigation had commenced to determine the source and intended destination of the consignment and identify other persons connected with it.
In a separate operation, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Sector III, Ubulu-Uku, arrested two suspected cultists at Alisheme Community in Ika South Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as Destiny Okafor, 18, and Sunday Bryan, 22.
According to the police, the two men were suspected of involvement in cultism and kidnapping-related activities.
The command said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects disclosed their membership of the NBM Confraternity.
Recovered during the operation were a locally fabricated single-barrelled gun, a battle axe, two cutlasses, mobile phones and a laptop.
The suspects remain in custody as investigation continues.
Also, on September 15, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Issele-Uku Division led a combined team in a cordon-and-search operation around Ogboli Quarter and other parts of the community.
The operation was based on intelligence about suspected cult activities and involved police anti-cult personnel, vigilantes, hunters and Forest Security operatives.
Four suspected cultists were arrested, while two locally made pistols, one pump-action gun and six live cartridges were recovered.
The police said investigation into the activities of the suspects was ongoing.
The latest operations form part of the Delta Command’s broader intelligence-led security strategy targeting cultism, kidnapping, illicit firearms and other criminal activities.
The command recently commenced Operation VELVET across the state, an exercise focused on vehicle documentation, road safety and security.
The police have also been working more closely with the Nigerian Army, with the Delta Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, and the Commander of 63 Brigade, Brigadier General Ibrahim Buhari, recently calling for sustained intelligence sharing and operational cooperation.
Erale reiterated the command’s determination to tackle kidnapping, cultism and the proliferation of illegal firearms across Delta State.
He urged residents to continue providing credible information to the police, assuring them that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
